After leaving the house of the Storm Listening Pavilion agent, Ye Beizhi surveyed his surroundings and decided to continue on his path toward the city wall.
Even though messenger hawks were fast, a round trip to and from the capital would still take two days. This meant that no matter how well-informed Ye Fan’s intelligence was, any news he delivered would be at least two days old.
Thus, Ye Beizhi wanted to see if he could find any updates himself.
As he approached the city gate, the oppressive atmosphere became palpable. The gates had been firmly shut, and from a distance, he could see armored soldiers standing atop the walls as their commanding officers hurried back and forth.
When Ye Beizhi attempted to move closer, a squad of patrolling soldiers noticed him. The squad leader stepped forward and blocked his way, saying, "No one is allowed to leave the city. Civilians cannot proceed any further."
Seeing how strict the defenses were, Ye Beizhi decided not to press further.
So he nodded, turned around, and began walking back. He had barely taken a couple of steps when he heard someone loudly shout from outside the city gates...
"Open the gates now!"
Three days earlier, in Songqing City.
Songqing was not a particularly large city, but its strategic location as the gateway to Liangzhou made it a critical military stronghold.
At this moment, Hu Huayang, the city commander of Songqing, sat in his residence in distress. His two deputy generals sat next to him.
"Sir, the civilians in the city have been evacuated," said Hu Ying, the lean deputy general seated on the left. He was Hu Huayang’s nephew. "The Northern Qiang forces could arrive outside the city at any moment. Sir, how will we fight them off?"
Hu Huayang waved a hand and rubbed his forehead, remaining silent.
"Fight? How?" the other deputy general snapped. He was burly, with a broad chest and powerful shoulders, and his tiger-like eyes glared at Hu Ying. "What can the eight thousand soldiers in this city do against Northern Qiang’s army of a million?"
Hu Huayang looked up at the burly deputy general and asked, "He Zhi, what do you think?"
He Zhi snorted through his nose and replied, "Sir, we should retreat."
Hu Huayang frowned and was about to speak, but He Zhi interrupted him.
"Sir, hear me out. If we stay, we can't hold the city with eight thousand soldiers alone. Even if we factor in the fact that Songqing is built against the mountains and has natural defenses, if Northern Qiang launches a no-holds-barred assault, we won’t even last a day against an army more than a hundred times our number.
"If that’s the case, shouldn't we take these eight thousand men and retreat to Liangzhou Prefecture? Liangzhou has over fifty thousand permanent soldiers, with both cavalry and infantry fully equipped and all siege defenses in place. Preserving our troops would only strengthen Liangzhou’s defenses. Wouldn't that be better?"
Hearing this, the lean deputy general Hu Ying grew agitated. "That's easy for you to say. Isn’t that just like fleeing without a fight?"
"You..." Hu Huayang thought about He Zhi's proposal and shook his head with a bitter smile. "You’re asking me to betray everything we stand for..."
He Zhi’s eyes widened. "That’s still better than dying in vain in Songqing! Sir, only by living do we have a chance. If we die, we lose everything!"
Hu Huayang’s expression darkened as he struggled internally. He slowly said, "Northern Qiang’s ambitions aren't limited to this small Songqing City. Since they intend to invade further, they won’t waste their forces here. As long as they don’t launch an all-out attack, we just might be able to hold—"
"Sir!" He Zhi exclaimed anxiously.
"My mind is made up," Hu Huayang said, waving to cut He Zhi off, his brows deeply furrowed. "If defending truly becomes untenable, we will then discuss retreat."
He Zhi slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair. "I fear it will be too late to retreat by then!"
"Then we’ll fight to the death!" A determined glint flashed in Hu Huayang’s eyes. "Dying on the battlefield is better than betraying our people... Hu Ying, when Northern Qiang arrives, I want you to lead the vanguard. Will you accept the order?"
Hu Ying took a deep breath and clasped his fists heavily. "I accept!"
Hu Huayang’s gaze shifted to He Zhi. "He Zhi, you will command all the archers to defend the west gate and provide mutual cover with Hu Ying. Any objections?"
He Zhi’s expression shifted several times before he finally clenched his teeth, bowed his head in disappointment, and clasped his hands. "I... I understand."
The next morning in Songqing CIty, Hu Huayang was startled awake by a commotion outside before dawn. He abruptly opened his eyes, hastily threw on his clothes, and pushed open the door.
With the threat of war looming, he had stayed near the city walls instead of sleeping in his residence. Stepping outside, he immediately saw shadowy figures moving along the walls, their movements chaotic in the flickering torchlight, like restless spirits dancing.
At that moment, He Zhi hurried toward him. Before He Zhi could speak, Hu Huayang asked urgently, "What is it? Have the Northern Qiang attacked?"
"Not yet, but the Northern Qiang have already set up their formation five li outside the city," He Zhi revealed with a grim expression.
Hu Huayang turned and headed for the walls, giving orders as he walked. "Follow me to the walls. Deploy the troops and prepare to defend the city."
He Zhi grunted in affirmation, but a dark glint flickered briefly in his eyes as he watched Hu Huayang walking ahead.
As Hu Huayang ascended the wall and gazed out, the dim light of dawn revealed a dense, black mass five li away, the Northern Qiang army. Despite the sheer number of men and horses, they scarcely made a sound, like a dense tide advancing in the dark.
Hu Huayang took a deep breath and turned toward the city. Eight thousand soldiers had gathered in the outer walls. He could see them nervously swallowing as the warhorses snorted uneasily amidst the oppressive atmosphere.
"Soldiers!" Hu Huayang raised his voice, his tone firm and resolute. "Outside this city stands Northern Qiang’s army a million strong! We are but eight thousand. I know that no matter what I say, you will think this is a battle we are destined to lose."
"Defeat means death. But now, I ask you to make a choice... Will you all die here, or will you fight for even the slightest chance of survival for your brothers beside you?"
Hu Huayang’s voice rose as he pointed westward. "In the west, Lord Qi is leading our Ruen Dynasty’s army here. In just three... perhaps even two days... they will arrive and crush the enemies outside! If we can hold Songqing for two days, your brothers may survive!"
"Maybe it will be you who survives, or perhaps your brothers beside you! Two days! If we can hold the city for two days, you will all be heroes of the Ruen Dynasty!"
"Sir!" He Zhi looked at Hu Huayang in shock and whispered, "The army will arrive in two days? When did this news come? Why didn't you tell me about it?"
Hu Huayang glared at him and growled, "Shut up!"
He Zhi’s eyes widened. "Are you... lying?"
Hu Huayang ignored him and continued addressing the soldiers below. "Everyone wants to live, and I am no exception. But! To live, you must fight with all your might! Tell me! Do you want to survive?!"
A thunderous roar echoed throughout Songqing.
"Good!" Hu Huayang gestured toward the Northern Qiang army five li away. "But those people... they don’t want you to live. Tell me, what should you do?!"
Hu Huayang exhaled deeply, watching the soldiers’ morale rise. He nodded slightly. "Now—"
His voice abruptly ceased as a long blade thrust through his body, piercing his chest.
Hu Huayang turned around in disbelief and met He Zhi’s cold, sinister gaze.
"You... you..." Hu Huayang stammered, trembling as he raised a finger toward He Zhi.
He Zhi gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles twitching. "Sir... I want to live too."
With a sharp sound, He Zhi yanked the blade out, and Hu Huayang’s body collapsed to the ground.
Below the walls, the eight thousand soldiers fell silent, stunned by the sudden turn of events.
"Soldiers!" He Zhi raised his arm and shouted, "Hu Huayang lied to you! The Ruen Dynasty’s army won't be coming! If you believe his deceitful words, we will all die here!"
An uproar erupted among the soldiers below.
"He Zhi! You treacherous dog!" Hu Ying turned berserk and charged forward. "You’ve betrayed us! I’ll kill you and avenge my uncle!"
"Stop him!" He Zhi bellowed.
Immediately, He Zhi’s personal guards moved to seize Hu Ying, but Hu Ying’s own guards blocked them. Chaos erupted as the two factions clashed.
He Zhi continued speaking from the wall. "Everyone, there is only one way to survive! Those who are willing to follow me, bring Hu Ying’s head to me!"
The soldiers below hesitated for a moment before the first man drew his blade and charged toward Hu Ying’s group.
Once the first soldier acted, the second quickly followed, then the third and fourth. Soon, countless soldiers swarmed in, overwhelming Hu Ying and his men.
Half an hour later, the Northern Qiang army approached. As they reached the city walls, Songqing’s gates suddenly opened, and a white flag was raised high above the walls. Atop the flagpole, Hu Huayang's severed head hung forlornly.
Ye Beizhi abruptly turned to look outside the city. From a distant, unseen location, a voice rang out!
"Open the gates now!"
"Reporting to Liangzhou Prefecture! Songqing... Songqing has surrendered!"